Dr. Ernst Gustav Cornelius was the founder of the Cornelius group of companies. In 1934 at the age of 41 years he moved from Vienna, Austria ,where he had been a Vegetable Oils and Fats trader, to the City of London setting up as a Merchant on 1st March 1935, again trading in Oils and Fats.

His business prospered but with the anticipated onset of World War 2 he decided in 1938 to expand his business interests by setting up Cornelius Products Ltd., in New York USA, and then in January 1939 forming Cornelius Produce Co.Ltd , in London trading in Commodity Products such as waxes, naval stores, essential oils etc.

During the early war years food rationing killed off the oils and fats trading activity compelling him to seek other business possibilities. Cornelius Chemical Co. Ltd. was founded in January 1942 essentially as a vehicle for moving surplus raw materials within the surface coating industry, although some products were imported from the USA. Despite the supply side difficulties, both the Produce and Chemical companies continued to trade successfully throughout the war years.

Immediately after the cessation of hostilities in 1945 he resumed the oils and fats trading taking W.R.Pick ( his first employee) into partnership in E.G.Cornelius Ltd., whilst the Produce and Chemical Companies began developing into Agency businesses. In the immediate post-war years, the trading operations of all three companies were severely restricted through the Government's imposition of both Import and Exchange controls, but by transferring part of the group operations to a newly formed company in Zurich, Switzerland, it was possible to maintain momentum. As soon as business conditions permitted, Dr. Cornelius withdrew from both the American and Swiss companies, which still continue as separate entities.

After the death of Dr. Cornelius in 1976 the three original companies grew and prospered through until the early 1980's at which time the Group had a combined turnover in excess of £300 million. In 1985, the then Managing Director, Ken Prior, recognised that the interests of the Chemical and Produce companies were no longer aligned with those of E.G.Cornelius Ltd, resulting in a demerger in January 1986. The Cornelius Chemical Group Ltd. was then formed and moved from the City to Romford.

In 1994 as a precursor to restructuring, Cornelius Chemical Group Ltd. moved from Romford to Bishops Stortford converting to Cornelius Group plc.

In February 1998 the restructuring was completed with Cornelius Group plc remaining as the holding company and Cornelius Chemical Co. Ltd., and Cornelius Produce Co Ltd. assuming once again their separate corporate identities.

On September 1st 2005 the Group was fully integrated into one company, Chemical and Produce becoming the Industrial and Health & Personal Care Divisions of Cornelius Group plc. respectively

In April 2006 David Brown was appointed Managing Director, Neville Prior became CEO and Chairman and Ken Prior became a non-executive director.